One of the best players in Curve history is returning to the team today, though in a much different scenario than when he left four years ago.
Center fielder Chris Duffy is expected to begin a rehab assignment today in Connecticut. Duffy will return to Altoona for this week’s homestand and could be with the club for an extended period.
Duffy underwent left shoulder surgery Aug. 31 and has yet to play this season. He has been working out at the Pirates’ complex in Bradenton, Fla.
Bucs farm director Kyle Stark said he’s ‘‘not sure how long’’ Duffy will remain with the Curve.
‘‘Until he’s healthy,’’ Stark added. ‘‘[He] just needs game reps to get ready and prove he’s healthy.’’
That could take a while in Duffy’s case — he needs to build arm strength — so there’s a chance he could remain with the Curve for a month or longer.
Duffy, the best defensive player in Curve history, played for the club in 2003 and was team MVP in 2004. He was the Pirates’ opening-day center fielder each of the past two seasons but hit just .255 and .249, and now he has his work cut out for him to get back into the organization’s future plans.
